Saturday, November 3, 2007

The mother of a missing St. Thomas infant failed a polygraph test, but it's a test her lawyer says she couldn't have passed because she was suffering from memory loss.

In a meeting this week with The Free Press, Bill Glover also said mother Sara Whittington will not let St. Thomas police interview her further.

Medical records shared with The Free Press confirm Whittington was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis -- high blood sugar that causes the buildup of acid in the blood, impairing brain function and possibly causing amnesia -- when found alone in her apartment Sept. 20, her month-old daughter missing.

- Blood tests at St. Thomas- Elgin General Hospital, where Whittington spent five days, found nothing unusual in her system, other than Aspirin.

- Police spent hours with Whittington at the hospital, at one point refusing to allow nurses to treat her for at least 30 minutes.

- Whittington suffered moderate to severe depression while in hospital and was often found in tears, including once in a fetal position crying "uncontrollably."

- When Whittington asked to see the baby's father, Chris Meadows, she was told, "Chris doesn't want to see you and he's seeking custody of Abbygail when she's found."

- Paramedics described Whittington as being in a "catatonic" state and confused when they found her in the Confederation Drive apartment with dilated pupils and a blank stare. But, they said, she was capable of obeying commands.

Glover said Whittington has done everything she can to help investigators, despite risks to her health and legal rights.

"She's in incredible jeopardy (facing criminal charges as 'the only suspect' in the investigation)," said Glover.

St. Thomas police Const. Anders Nielsen said he could neither confirm nor deny a polygraph test was given.

But Nielsen argued polygraphs are a "proven investigative tool not yet accepted as evidence in court" and administered by an expert.

Nielsen said anyone undergoing a polygraph is "free to leave anytime, or can ask to speak to a lawyer."

Nielsen also said police "would never deny (nurses or doctors) access to a patient."

Nielsen said investigators declined the offers for good reason.

"That's not the way police conduct interviews, with a third party interfering," he said. "You either come in and do it, or you don't. It's outrageous for anyone to dictate how an interview is" done.

Whittington said Abbygail "was never out of my sight, except for an hour once when my mother was watching her."

Nielsen said investigators are simply "following the evidence. There are so many things that have gone on and you can come up with so many theories," he said.

"The evidence leads police in certain directions and we have to follow it. And it now points to one suspect."